Mary Cromwell

Mary Cromwell, Baptised 9 February 1636, the Cromwell’s penultimate daughter, was still living in the parental home when her father became Protector. During the 1650s there were rumours of various matches but eventually, with suitable encouragement from Secretary of State John Thurloe, her hand was won by Thomas Belasyse, Viscount and later Earl Fauconberg. The couple were married at Hampton Court in November 1657. Having toured her husband’s family estates in Yorkshire in summer 1658, Mary was back in London in time to be on hand for and to mourn her sister’s and her father’s deaths. After the fall of the Protectorate, Fauconberg was out of favour and retired to the countryside. He returned to favour at the Restoration and embarked upon an illustrious career as diplomat, politician, administrator and courtier which added to his already considerable wealth and property. He and Mary divided their time between their estates in Yorkshire, especially Newburgh Park near Coxwold, and their London properties, especially Sutton Court in Chiswick and a new house they built in Soho. The surviving correspondence of Thomas and Mary reveals that the marriage, though childless, was close, warm and loving. Wealthy and contented, they entertained lavishly and had a wide circle of friends. Thomas died after a long illness in 1700. Mary, now the Dowager Countess, was left a very wealthy widow and passed her final years principally at Sutton Court in London. She died in March 1713 and was buried in Chiswick church.